RIGA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Latvian lawmakers passed the Baltic country's 2019 budget in the final reading after lengthy debating on Wednesday, local media reported.
The budget was adopted by 59 coalition votes, while 34 MPs, including all opposition lawmakers and three rebel MPs from the ruling KPV LV voted against the draft budget.
The parliament debated the budget bill and 14 related legislative amendments for about ten hours with several breaks.
Work on Latvia's 2019 budget had been delayed due to a prolonged government formation process following last year's general election.
According to the budget bill, Latvia's consolidated spending is expected to increase by 400 million euros (450 million U.S. dollars) from last year to 9.4 billion euros in 2019. Consolidated budget revenue is also projected to grow by 400 million euros to 9.2 billion euros.
General government deficit is planned at 0.5 percent of GDP, which is expected to grow by 3 percent this year.
"This is only the beginning. We have passed a technical budget," Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins told the parliament after the vote.
